Self-Launched India: Taj Mahal, Tiger Safari & Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary

Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Take the Delhi Airport Metro Express from Terminal 3 to New Delhi station (~£2, 20 mins) or a prepaid taxi from the official booth (~£8–10). Check into a guesthouse in Paharganj or the backpacker-friendly Karol Bagh area. Grab a cheap thali dinner nearby and grab a local SIM card from Airtel or Jio at the airport (£3–5 for a data-and-calls package). Rest up — tomorrow is a full day.

🚌Delhi Airport Metro Express from T3 to New Delhi station (~£2) or prepaid taxi (~£8–10)

🛏Hotel Namaskar or similar guesthouse, Paharganj (~£12–15/night)

• →Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport
• →Take the Airport Metro Express to central Delhi (~£2)
• →Check in to guesthouse in Paharganj or Karol Bagh
• →Buy a local SIM card (Airtel or Jio, ~£3–5)
• →Explore local street food for dinner

A full day exploring Delhi's highlights. Start at Raj Ghat (Gandhi's memorial, free entry), then head to the Red Fort (entry ~£1.50 for Indians, ~£7 for foreigners — book via the ASI website or at the gate). Take a classic cycle rickshaw through the chaos of Chandni Chowk — negotiate a price (~£2–3 for a short circuit). Head south to Qutub Minar (entry ~£7, book on GetYourGuide or direct). Drive past India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan (exterior only, free). Finish with Humayun's Tomb (entry ~£7) and the free Lotus Temple. Use the Delhi Metro between south and north Delhi (£0.30–0.70 per ride) to keep transport costs low.

🚌Delhi Metro between areas (£0.30–0.70/ride); auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws locally (~£1–3 per ride)

🛏Hotel Namaskar or similar guesthouse, Paharganj (~£12–15/night)

• →Visit Raj Ghat — Gandhi's memorial (free entry)
• →Visit Red Fort (~£7 entry, book direct or via GetYourGuide)
• →Cycle rickshaw tour through Chandni Chowk (~£2–3)
• →Visit Qutub Minar (~£7 entry)
• →Drive/auto-rickshaw past India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan (free)
• →Visit Humayun's Tomb (~£7 entry)
• →Visit Lotus Temple (free entry)

Take the Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi Express train from Hazrat Nizamuddin station to Agra Cantt (~£8–12 in AC chair car, ~2 hrs — book in advance on IRCTC or Cleartrip). Check into a guesthouse near Taj Ganj for the closest access to the Taj. Visit Agra Fort in the afternoon (~£7 entry). Wake early the next morning or, if time allows, head to the Taj Mahal at sunset today (entry ~£13 — the sunrise visit is Day 4 morning if preferred). Eat a rooftop dinner with a Taj Mahal view at one of the many cafes in Taj Ganj — budget ~£4–6.

🚌Gatimaan Express or Shatabdi Express, Hazrat Nizamuddin → Agra Cantt (~£8–12, book on IRCTC.co.in); auto-rickshaw from station to Taj Ganj (~£2)

🛏Hotel Kamal or Saniya Palace Hotel, Taj Ganj (~£10–15/night, great Taj views)

• →Gatimaan/Shatabdi Express train Delhi → Agra (~£8–12)
• →Visit Agra Fort (~£7 entry, book via ASI website or at gate)
• →Visit the Taj Mahal — go at sunrise for the iconic light and smaller crowds (~£13 entry, pre-book via ASI portal)
• →Rooftop dinner with Taj view in Taj Ganj (~£4–6)

After an early Taj Mahal sunrise visit if you didn't go yesterday (highly recommended — arrive by 6am), take a shared taxi or local bus to Bharatpur (~55km, ~1–1.5 hrs, ~£3–5 by shared cab from Agra's Idgah bus stand). Keoladeo National Park (formerly Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's best birding spots. Entry for foreigners is ~£8. Hire a bicycle inside the park (~£2/day) or a cycle-rickshaw with a trained bird guide (~£5–8 for 2–3 hrs) to explore the wetlands. Over 230 bird species have been recorded here. Overnight in Bharatpur.

🚌Shared taxi from Agra Idgah bus stand → Bharatpur (~£3–5, ~1–1.5 hrs); bicycle or cycle-rickshaw inside the park

🛏Hotel Sunbird or Falcon Guest House, Bharatpur (~£10–14/night)

• →Sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal if not done previous evening (~£13 entry)
• →Shared taxi or local bus Agra → Bharatpur (~£3–5)
• →Enter Keoladeo National Park (~£8 foreign entry)
• →Hire a bicycle (~£2) or cycle-rickshaw with bird guide (~£5–8) inside the park
• →Spot painted storks, sarus cranes, kingfishers, and migratory waterfowl

Take a train or shared taxi from Bharatpur to Sawai Madhopur (the gateway town for Ranthambore), approximately 1.5–2 hrs by train (~£4–7 on IRCTC). Check in to a guesthouse in Sawai Madhopur. The key activity is an afternoon or morning tiger safari in Ranthambore National Park — book a shared Gypsy (6-seater jeep) permit well in advance via the official Rajasthan Forest Department website (ranthambhore.net) or through your guesthouse. Safari permit costs ~£10–14 per person for a shared Gypsy, plus a park entry fee (~£8). Ranthambore is one of India's best chances to see Bengal tigers in the wild. Try to book Zone 1–5 for the highest tiger sighting probability.

🚌Train Bharatpur → Sawai Madhopur (~£4–7, book on IRCTC.co.in); shared jeep safari within the park

🛏Hotel Ranthambore Regency or Hammir Wildlife Resort, Sawai Madhopur (~£12–18/night)

• →Train from Bharatpur → Sawai Madhopur (~£4–7, ~1.5–2 hrs on IRCTC)
• →Check in and arrange safari permit via ranthambhore.net or guesthouse
• →Afternoon tiger safari in Ranthambore National Park — shared Gypsy jeep (~£10–14 permit + ~£8 park entry)
• →Explore Ranthambore Fort ruins visible within the park (included in safari)

Start with an early morning safari if you want a second chance at tiger sightings (optional, ~£18–22 total). Then take a direct train or shared taxi to Jaipur (~3 hrs by train, ~£6–9 on IRCTC Shatabdi or intercity). Check into a guesthouse in the old city. Head to Amber Fort in the late afternoon — entry ~£8 for foreigners (book via Rajasthan tourism site or at gate). The Sound and Light Show at Amber Fort runs most evenings (~£4 entry, ~45 mins) and is a dramatic retelling of Rajput history. Great street food dinner options nearby.

🚌Train Sawai Madhopur → Jaipur (~£6–9, ~3 hrs, book on IRCTC.co.in); auto-rickshaw to Amber Fort from Jaipur (~£3–4 each way)

🛏Zostel Jaipur or Hotel Pearl Palace, Pink City (~£12–18/night)

• →Optional early morning tiger safari (~£18–22 total including permit and park fees)
• →Train Sawai Madhopur → Jaipur (~£6–9, ~3 hrs on IRCTC)
• →Visit Amber Fort (~£8 entry, book direct or via Rajasthan tourism portal)
• →Attend the Sound and Light Show at Amber Fort (~£4, evenings)

Spend the day exploring the Pink City. Walk or take an auto-rickshaw past the iconic Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) — the best view is from the street, or pay ~£1.50 to go inside. Visit the City Palace complex (~£10 for the main museum areas). Wander to Jantar Mantar, the 18th-century astronomical observatory next door (~£5 entry). Browse the bazaars of Johari Bazaar for jewellery and Bapu Bazaar for textiles. In the evening, try a traditional Rajasthani thali at a local restaurant (~£4–6). Jaipur is a fantastic city to wander — budget some time just to get lost in the old city streets.

🚌Auto-rickshaws around Jaipur old city (~£1–3 per ride); walking between Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and Jantar Mantar (5 min walk)

🛏Zostel Jaipur or Hotel Pearl Palace, Pink City (~£12–18/night)

• →Photo stop at Hawa Mahal exterior (free) or go inside (~£1.50 entry)
• →Visit City Palace (~£10 entry, includes museum)
• →Visit Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory (~£5 entry)
• →Explore Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar
• →Traditional Rajasthani thali dinner (~£4–6)

Take the Shatabdi Express or Intercity Express train from Jaipur Junction to New Delhi (~4.5–5 hrs, ~£8–14 in AC chair car — book early on IRCTC). Alternatively, Rajasthan Roadways AC buses run frequently (~£7–10, ~5.5 hrs). From New Delhi station, take the Airport Metro Express to the terminal (~£2). Allow plenty of time before your flight. If you have hours to spare, store luggage at New Delhi station (£1–2) and take a final walk around Connaught Place.

🚌Shatabdi/Intercity Express Jaipur → New Delhi (~£8–14, book on IRCTC.co.in); Delhi Airport Metro Express to IGI (~£2)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Check out and head to Jaipur Junction station
• →Shatabdi or Intercity Express train Jaipur → New Delhi (~£8–14, ~4.5–5 hrs)
• →Airport Metro Express from New Delhi station to IGI Airport (~£2)
• →Optional: luggage storage at New Delhi station and final stroll around Connaught Place